DALLAS -- Michigan State's march to the College Football Playoff semifinal has brought the Spartans to AT&T Stadium, where they'll face SEC gold standard Alabama tonight.
It's teacher versus student, with Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban bringing an 8-0 mark against those from his coaching tree into the Cotton Bowl matchup with Mark Dantonio (TV: 8 p.m. ESPN).
"It's a great opportunity, but it's also a great challenge," said Dantonio, who first coached with the Spartans as an assistant when Saban was head coach of MSU from 1995-1999. "We'll need to be at our best, play at our best, because our best is going to be needed here.